Written by: Will Hoenike
In 1982, gas cost under a buck per gallon. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was released, as was Steven Spielberg’s movie, “E.T.”
It’s also the year that the Kirkland Era began at Carey High School. It was Heber Kirkland’s first season as head coach of the Panthers. Over 19 years, the elder Kirkland won 121 football games before handing the program off to his son, Lane.
The younger Kirkland put away his varsity whistle following last season, a 22-year run that included 194 wins and multiple state-title trophies.
The school didn’t look far to find Kirkland’s replacement, tabbing longtime assistant coach John Saili as the new head man. After more than 40 years, the head coach at Carey won’t answer to the name, “Coach Kirkland.”
Saili’s first task will be replacing a talented and experienced senior class that included (among others) a past state player of the year in Conner Simpson, all-conference performers like Colton Larna, Riley Morey, and Teegan Kirkland, and explosive, versatile athletes like Carsn Perkes.
There are others but, suffice it to say, there are jobs to be won for the 2023 Carey Panthers football team.
“We do not know who our explosive players are going to be and plan to try to spread the field and get the ball into as many athletes’ hands as possible,” Saili said. “We lost a lot of key players at almost every position but hope to identify new talent as quickly as possible.”
The cupboard isn’t completely bare along Highway 26 in central Idaho. The Panthers do return starting quarterback Preston Wood, who threw for nearly 1,400 yards and 23 touchdowns last fall as a sophomore. They also return the reigning Snake River Conference Defensive Player of the Year in Nik Versis, who accumulated over 120 tackles last season, as well as AJ Black, who had nearly 100 tackles on defense.
Players like Versis and Black will have the chance to fill expanded roles this fall. Versis could become a key ballcarrier on offense, while Black joins senior Hagen Hennefer and junior Mathew Young as potential pass-catching targets when Wood drops back to throw the ball. Senior Owen Parke, who doubles as a tight end and defensive end, will also have the opportunity to fill a big role for Carey this season. Juniors Jonathan Harmon and Luke Aquistapace appear to have the inside track to fill roles along the offensive and defensive front for the Panthers.
With Versis and Black back on defense, the Panthers may rely on their defense to lead the way early in the season while new offensive weapons settle into their roles. Carey’s defense allowed 167 total points in 11 games last season, including five games of allowing its opponents fewer than ten points.
It’s a tough stretch to open the season for Carey, which opens the season at home against 1A Division 1 runner-up Grace on August 25. That game is followed by a road contest against perennial power Butte County, a home contest against explosive Lighthouse Christian, and then a road game against defending 1A Division 1 state champion Oakley.
“This year’s team is, overall, very young and not as experienced because they lost out on a junior-high season (due to COVID-19 pandemic) and, last year, our JV schedule was canceled due to injuries,” Saili said. “I’m just excited for these kids to have the opportunity to show what they can do.”
Surviving the first month’s difficult schedule is step one. As players gain experience and gain confidence, Carey should be in position to compete for a playoff spot out of the always-deep and always-competitive Snake River Conference this fall.